Next Phonostage


I'm contemplating a new Phonostage to replace my Rowland Cadence. One of the driving factors is wanting multiple inputs for multiple tonearms.

My system is currently: TW-Acustic Raven AC-1/TW10.5 tonearm/Dynavector XV-1s cart with Rowland Synergy IIi preamp, Rowland 302 power amp and Avalon Acoustics Eidolon Diamond loudspeakers.

My listening tastes are everything except rap/hip-hop. Probably 50% rock/pop, 40% Jazz and 10% Classical.

My audio characteristics preferences I value include really black backgrounds, air around images, extension and musicality. Dynamics are also a plus.

My contenders are currently:

Audio Research Ref 2 SE Phono - rave reviews, most say this gives you best attributes of solid state and tube sound combined, might be a natural transition into tubes for me

Thoress Phono Enhancer - also known as TW Acustic Phonostage; might mate well with my analog front end, flexibility in dialing in bass, mids, highs, customizable sound

Manley Steelhead - heard this in a friend's system, very nice sound, very flexible, did hear a it of tube noise

Can anyone who owns one of these phonostages or has listening experience with them give me some input and advice on what would work best with my system?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations from the audiogon community.
philb7777

Showing 2 responses by thaluza

I wanted to respond to Wrm57 who said he had a hum problem with his Allnic H-3000. I had the same problem, but I solved it by plugging my preamp into the same zone on my power conditioner that has the H-3000 and my turntable. Before, when I had the hum, I had the preamp plugged into a separate zone.
I am another very satisfied Allnic H-3000 owner. Mine has a bit of tube rush, but you have to listen very close to the speakers to hear it. In my experience, a minor bit of tube rush is typical and not unusual for tubed components and is not a concern to me. I would like to hear the opinions of the esteemed posters here on whether the typical amount of tube rush that is found in many tubed components would compromise Philb7777's priority of a "really" black background, especially given the fact that he has ultra quiet Rowland components in his system.